Q&A with Christina Shirley of The Stella Blue Gallery

Our Adrian storage cabinet wasn’t custom made for Christina Shirley’s small space entryway, but it certainly looks that way! Keep scrolling to see the perfect fit and learn more about Christina.

What was the inspiration behind your name The Stella Blue Gallery?

Growing up, I always dreamt and knew in my heart I would own my own business. I just didn’t know what kind of business it would be, but I always knew that it would be called “Stella Blue,” after one of my favorite Grateful Dead songs.

In your opinion, what’s the most important part of creating a home?

Make it you, not what you see in a magazine. Your home should be a reflection of your personality. The more you focus on that when creating your space, the happier you will be in it and that feeling will spread to everyone who visits your home.

Who or what inspires you?

Absolutely everything. It sounds totally cliché, but honestly I find inspiration in practically everything my eyes land on. From the way the light hits the tree leaves in the late evenings to the curves and lines of a well-crafted piece of pottery. Inspiration is everywhere, you just have to slow down to see it.

If you could have anyone (dead or alive) deliver furniture to your home, who would it be and why?

Hands down, Jerry Garcia. As soon as he delivered my piece, I would go into total fan mode, pull out the guitars and beg him to play just one song before he goes. I have no shame.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Ok, back to music. I’m too stubborn to take advice from family or friends, but there are millions of lyrics from songs that I hold near and dear to my heart to help me navigate through life. One of my favorites is, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need.” (You Can’t Always Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones) Also, “Sooner or later you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.” (Scarlet Begonias, Grateful Dead) On the best day or the worst day, I always return to those two quotes.

What’s your favorite travel destination?

My backyard.

How would you describe your style?

Personally, very laid back, but occasionally an extra coat of mascara, a sexy dress and lipgloss is in order to make sure I don’t lose my edge. The same goes for our home. If you look around, it’s very chill but there are a few jaw-dropping, controversial pieces. Gotta keep ‘em on their toes, right?!

In your opinion, what is something every home should have?

Music!!!

What are some of your favorite plants to decorate your home with?

Low maintenance is the key! You don’t want to worry about having to water your plants every day. You also need to know what kind of home you have and the lighting your home provides a plant. When in doubt, they usually have info/care tags stuck in their soil and if you’re in a smaller greenhouse picking plants, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Describe your perfect Saturday.

In the sun, on the water with family and friends, good food, epic tunes, and ice cold drinks for all.

The Room & Board product featured in this post was gifted to Christina Shirley for her home. All opinions are her own.